Prophecies Fulfilled: Genesis to Deuteronomy

Summary

God's Word is wisdom arranged in a series of lessons linking scripture to show His plan of salvation. Each detail is woven in His Word – like intricate fabric used in His Tabernacle. His Word like fine linen curtains in the Tabernacle were assembled with specific instructions. Jesus taught this to His disciples during His ministry and explained details during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension. The method God's Spirit uses to teach from His Word has never changed.

If you're serious about learning how to study your Bible, why not learn directly from the source – GOD's WORD. The instructions have never left God's Word, His Spirit never stopped teaching how to use the simple study rules God's Word was written to follow. The prophecies Jesus fulfilled follow a specific sequence – each prophecy a lesson – each lesson teaches a basic rule of interpretation – each rule builds on the previous lesson.

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Introduction

This book belongs in the hands of every Christian. This is the first in a series that will be released as soon as they are written. The condition of the world at this time dictates the urgency of this message. When we hear Egypt and Syria in the news, we know something is happening. No one can deny God used these as important symbols throughout the Bible. The world knows time is short. Nature shows labor signs written about over 2000 years ago. We know these physical symbols point to the fulfillment of a much greater spiritual meaning. But this book does not discuss the spiritual fulfillment of those physical symbols. After reading this book you will understand the dangers of guessing at any fulfillment of prophecy while God's plan is in the process of being fulfilled. Rather this book explains how the door to God's throne has been opened by Jesus' sacrifice, providing direct access to every disciple to learn every detail of God's perfect plan in His perfect timing. This book shows how we must first learn to study and understand prophecies that have been fulfilled before we can hope to understand future prophecies. Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLTse). First we have to learn to understand the prophecies Paul referred to as the message of unity. Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:11-16 NLTse).

It wasn't by mistake, the introduction to Paul's first book in the Bible explains exactly what the GOOD NEWS is. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son, Jesus. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. (Romans 1:2-5 NLTse). The GOOD NEWS has always been about Jesus. Paul tells us exactly where to look and find out everything we need to teach the world about HIM, through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.

Theses days it seems every church, seminary, university, college, and institution has dropped the ball. They all forgot how to teach the GOOD NEWS, because they forgot how to learn about Jesus. How they forgot doesn't make sense. The message is repeated in the New Testament over 200 times. The sad part is, as we study the prophecies about Jesus through the Bible in sequence, God shows us exactly how religious leaders would deny Jesus and how it will happen again.

The good news is, these prophecies about Jesus also teach simple Bible study methods you can use, so you will never be fooled. This book is a collection of short stories containing simple Bible studies about the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. This book shows and explains how the Old Testament and New Testament are linked together. One interesting fact about the Bible I learned while reading through the New testament I have to share. I began looking up every Old Testament scripture Paul referenced. In the process, I saw how Paul already recorded the major points written in this book. The thing is, the only way to see these messages is to take time to look up every scripture Paul quoted. In other words, Paul referenced scripture to teach early Christians how to study on their own. By doing this, Paul ensured each person would develop a personal relationship with God's Spirit. In the process, each person would develop and grow their personal relationship with Jesus, He came here to die for. Yes, this book also covers details of the relationship Jesus tried to explain to the world, and how people reacted to it. Both the good and the bad.

As the prophecies about Jesus progress through the Old Testament they shift from one series of lessons to the next in a sequence to lead any believer into a deeper understanding of God's plan of salvation. The first series of prophecies teaches how to locate parallel New Testament texts. In essence, this series teaches fundamental rules of Bible study. Once a basic understanding of Bible Study is achieved, God moves onto the next series of lessons introducing a number of symbols pointing to Jesus and His ministry on earth as well as Heaven. Once these have been introduced and their fulfillment explained by New Testament texts, the next logical series of lessons is introduced. Moses records a number of lessons focusing on the role of the priests and how they were to reflect the life of the Messiah. Once we have accumulated the proper knowledge to study scripture, learned a number of symbols pointing to Christ, reviewed responsibilities given to the priests, Moses adds a number of prophecies revealing how the priests would treat the Messiah. God wanted us to see how mistakes made by the priests will be repeated throughout history. The end of Moses' contribution to the Bible contains a number of prophecies teaching lessons on a deeper personal level. These prophecies use Israel and the religious leaders in both Moses' and Jesus' time as symbols pointing to later times in history, including our own.

Chapter 1

Genesis 3:15 Strike His Heal Genesis 3:21 Skins Genesis 6:14 Pitch

Genesis 3:15 Strike His Heal

The first prophecy of Jesus recorded in the Bible is of course Genesis 3:15. " And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."

To understand this prophecy we have to first look back at previous texts to see how events led to this outcome. The Bible opens with God’s creation of the world. After God created light, land, the sun and stars in the sky, all the vegetation, birds, fish and animals, God bent down, began gathering up dust from the ground and formed the first man, Adam. Not only did God show his close connection to Adam by forming him with His own time and hands, God put His breath of life in him. "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person." (Genesis 2:7 NLTse).

It didn’t seem enough for God to give Adam the entire world He just created, God had more in mind. Adam needed to learn the most important lesson of all, so he would remember what it meant to be created in God’s image.

After God created the world and formed Adam with His own hands, He went to work, personally planting a garden. God spoke everything into existence and gave Adam dominion over all of it. To teach Adam what dominion meant, God planted a garden while Adam watched. "Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made." (Genesis 2:8 NLTse) Adam saw the time and care God put into the garden. Adam appreciated all the planning, preparation, work and time God put into the garden. When God presented the garden to Adam, it was an example of unconditional love. Adam was now ready for God's next creation, a soul mate, a wife.

The Bible shows God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Did this indicate it was Adam’s role to tell Eve? How does this explain Adam’s role? How does this explain man’s role before sin -- and after?

One day Eve wondered away on her own. Walking about the garden, admiring the beautiful world filled with trees, fruit, nuts, animals, and warn sunlight which gave her a sense of security. As she passed the tree of knowledge of good and evil she noticed a wonderfully colored serpent. The sun reflected off the beast contrasting him from the beauty of the tree and its fruit. To Eve’s surprise the serpent spoke directly to her. "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"

The crafty serpent controlled by Satan, accused God of restricting Eve and her husband, withholding not only one tree, but denying access to other trees. Eve already had the quality of defending her family. Satan was taking advantage of this quality. In this case Eve was defending her Father, the Creator of the universe. "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" (Genesis 3:2-3 NLTse).

Satan was able to overcome Eve with his cunning plan. Once Eve saw she didn’t die, she offered the fruit to Adam, and he also ate. Their eyes were opened to sin and they felt ashamed. At first they tried to hide from God. They lost a connection with their Creator. After casting blame on one another, the serpent then God, they faced the consequences of their disobedience. Within the curse is the first of many prophecies about Jesus. "I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." This is of course was a prophecy addressing the conflict between Jesus and the Satan, represented by the serpent. The prophecy points to the cross where Satan will appear to gain a victory over Christ, but in the end will loose not only his claim to this world, but his life.

John 13:18-19 NLTse "I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, 'The one who eats my food has turned against me.' (19) I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah.

Scripture shows how Satan was able to control a number of people to carry out his plan. Judas, Caiaphas, and Pilate were all pawns in his game. Caiaphas and Pilate had a lot riding on the outcome. Both were protecting their status, jobs and fortunes built on the backs of others. Judas was attempting to join the group of the worldly elite.

Jesus had another role and motive in the plan of salvation. Jesus fulfilled that role to the letter while God allowed Satan to carry out his plans. The results may not have been what Satan expected, but the outcome's been sealed. It seems the results were not what anyone in the Jerusalem expected.

Luke 24:6-8 NLTse He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, (7) that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day." (8) Then they remembered that he had said this.

What type of victory did Satan hope to gain by putting Jesus hung on the cross? There is a parallel between Satan and Caiaphas... both stood against Jesus. They share the same ideas, motives, and greed. To them control and power was more important than truth.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!" (John 14:6-7 NLTse)

Jesus gave up His throne in Heaven to show the way back to God -- His Father. This takes us right back to Eden when God walked with Adam and Eve. A relationship God never forgot, but has been working for thousands of years to reestablish. The same loving hands that formed Adam and Eve were nailed to a cross. The same breath giving life to Adam, gave life to everyone who listens to His words. Jesus came to bring the truth to this world. He came to do away with man made doctrines, misconceptions about God’s law, and burdens placed upon mankind, designed to force them further away from God. Jesus died to show the true meaning of the prophecies and do away with all the misinterpretations that caused nothing but division. Jesus came to offer life to a planet dead to sin. "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55 NLTse).

Jesus died and rose from the grave to reopen a direct path to God and to reestablish the personal relationship He always intended for each and every one of us.

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. But the people's minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinthians 3:13-18 NLTse).

Genesis 3:21 Skins

Jesus fulfilled more prophecies than most people know about. Some times a verse doesn't appear as a prophecy, but still has a connection with God’s plan of salvation easily understood when compared with other scripture. This is one example.

Genesis 3:21 NLTse And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

Looking back at previous verses we see how God created the heavens and earth. God created a world supplying every need for man. Air, light, warmth, water, food, beauty, and companionship. Adam had everything anyone could hope for and more. Adam had a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. (Genesis 3:8 NLTse).

Imagine meeting with God every evening. Have you ever experienced times in your life you wished God would walk up to see how you were doing? Think of the things you would say, the questions you could ask. Adam must have had an endless list of questions. Imagine what went through his mind as God presented all the animals in the world as Adam named them. He must have asked God why He created this animal with one feature, and another with something completely different. Adam must have examined a leaf with intense interest to later ask God about every detail. The next day he may have asked about a flower, and why some of the insects interacted with it. What about the stars? Do you think Adam asked God about the stars? That must have been an interesting conversation. Imagine the love between them as God explained each detail like a Father teaching His son.

We can’t be certain how long the relationship lasted. Well, we know the relationship existed, but things changed. Adam was told to avoid one tree in the garden God planted. It shouldn’t have been very difficult to avoid one tree since Adam had an entire world to explore. It didn’t matter where Adam wondered, God always knew where to find him. We also know God saved the best gift for last, a soul mate and companion to help him tend the garden God gave him. When God presented the garden of Eden to Adam, it was an example of unconditional love. A special place God cultivated by hand as Adam watched. Once Adam understood the concept of unconditional love, God put Adam to sleep, removed a single rib, using it to form Eve, his wife.

Today people pay thousands on their first married days together to interact in the most romantic locations. No one will ever be able to match the wedding gift God gave to Adam and Eve -- paradise, and a day of rest together. All God asked for in return was to remember Him on their day of rest, the Sabbath. Only God would plan a special day with such significance, the first day together in a marriage meant to last an eternity. No wonder why Jesus uses the symbol of a bride to remind us of His return.

Paradise did not last forever. One day Eve went to the tree of knowledge of good and evil alone. The outcome was not good. While trying to defend God, her Creator, Satan speaking through the serpent convinced her to eat the fruit God commanded them not to eat. When she saw she did not die as promised, she gave it to her husband and he also ate the fruit. Both disobeyed God. Both tried to hide their shame from God. Both had to bear a curse. Both had to leave the garden God planted for them.

God did not send them away without first providing Adam and Eve with animal skins to protect against the changing elements. Once again God moved with His hands to slay the first victims of sin. We are not told which animals gave their lives, but God performed the first sacrifice in the world changed by sin. The price was high. Were the animal skins a blessing or a curse? Were they a constant reminder of the day they disobeyed God, or were the skins a promise of a sacrifice to come? Jesus told a parable about another garment.

Matthew 22:11-12 NLTse "But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. (12) 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply.

Jesus told this parable to a group of people seated in the temple courtyard listening to His words while searching for a closer connection with God, and a return to Eden, the close personal walk with God we once had. Do you think any of them thought about the first set of garments God made for Adam and Eve? Or do you think they looked around the courtyard at how people were dressed? On one side of the courtyard, high above the crowd all the religious leaders gathered, each wearing a costume trying to out do the other in color, design, detail, and splendor. On the other side stood Jesus in His simple garments telling a story about a king preparing a wedding feast for his son. Do you think the people saw the relationship between Jesus and the simple coverings God fashioned with His own hands for Adam and Eve? Later in the book of Revelation we see how God will one day cloth His followers.

Revelation 7:9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

Can you imagine the excitement of Jesus’ first followers as they poured their hearts into the scriptures. Led by the Spirit one after another verse came alive as they saw connections between the prophecies and Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Why don’t we share the same enthusiasm today? Are we removed from the cross too far to feel the emotion? Or are we too busy falling into the same pit the religious leaders standing on the other side of the court fell into? They were busy plotting to kill Jesus because He preached contrary to their man made doctrines. Sure, their doctrines were based on scripture, but was this what God gave them to teach? Was it the message He trusted them with? What was the message God trusted them with? The coming Messiah was the message they misunderstood. Symbols in the Tabernacle and how they pointed to the Messiah were distorted. Each religious group preached about the Messiah. They all knew the prophecies better than anyone else in the world. What they could not admit was, every single one of their interpretations were wrong. Their track record was zero out of more than three hundred. Talk about spiritually blind, falling into a ditch and pulling everyone in with themselves. Their traditions and doctrines even fooled Jesus’ disciples.

What is the message Jesus gave His disciples to teach? It was one simple message – one they should have no problem learning and teaching. The only one true message which would guarantee unity until His return. Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 NLTse). Jesus’ disciples began spreading this message in Jerusalem. "People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. (Acts 2:22-24 NLTse). Has the simple message Jesus instructed His disciples to teach been told around the world? Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me--a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:13-14 NLTse).

Genesis 6:14 Pitch

At times prophecies about Jesus are difficult to see. Then one day the Spirit will point out a single word. Studying the Bible on a computer has made Bible study much easier. All you really need is a King James Version with a Concordance. Many programs include a Strong’s Concordance which allows you to quickly look up the original Hebrew or Greek word. Along with other information, this will provide the definition which can help you understand the text in a new light.

Understanding any text requires one important and simple step, reading the previous texts which will help reveal the context. Many people have a misconception of what context means. In simple terms, context refers to the overall lesson the chapter or story is teaching. Following is one example in which the context will reveal the meaning of one particular word which will show how this text is actually a prophecy about Jesus.

Genesis 6:14 KJV Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Looking back at previous texts we see God speaking directly to Noah. God told Noah the world had reached a point of wickedness and He had no other choice but to destroy it. What kind of world do you think Noah lived in? What do you think went through Noah's mind when God told him about destroying the world and all its living creatures? Why do animals have to suffer because of man’s sins? God instructed Noah to build an ark. He gave Noah plans and dimensions. Do you think God gave Noah more design details than those listed in the Bible? When the ark was finished, Noah covered it with pitch, a black tar to seal the wood.

It must have been a sight to see. There in the middle of a field along side a forest where so many trees were cut down to supply lumber, stood this huge boat covered in black tar. It must have been a menacing site. The huge black figure standing out in contrast to the blue sky. This wasn’t the only black figure God used as a significant symbol in the plan of salvation. The outside covering of the Tabernacle was made up of black skins. Why did God use black to cover these two structures? He Concordance reveals some very interesting information about the black pitch that covered the ark.

I noticed the word pitch is repeated in Genesis 6:14. Why? All I know is, when God repeats Himself, we should pay attention. So I decided to look up the word in Strong’s Concordance and guess what I found?

The original Hebrew word has more than one meaning. Strange as it may seem it can be translated as bitumen, or tar, as it is in this verse, or it can be translated as an atonement. In most other verses in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word ka phar is translated as an atonement. When God writes a story, He makes certain all the physical and spiritual aspects are explained. Not only was the ark waterproof, but covered with an atonement. Is this another prophecy about Jesus?

Noah was told to take his wife, sons, and their wives into the ark. He was also told to put a pair of every living creature in the ark, seven pairs of the clean animals. I wonder how Noah knew which were clean and unclean. God must have instructed them before the flood. Once the ark was loaded, the LORD closed the door behind them. (Genesis 7:16 NLTse)

What do you think it was like inside the ark? A small family gathered together among two of every animal in the world. Did they know they would be